Highway to heaven: mammary gland development and differentiation.
In recent years, the mammary gland epithelium has been shown to be a mixture of differentiated cell populations in a hierarchical relationship with their stem and progenitor cells. However, the mechanisms that regulate their cellular differentiation processes are still unclear. The identification of genes that govern stem and progenitor cell expansion, or that determine daughter cell fate, will be of crucial interest for understanding breast cancer diversity and, ultimately, improving treatment. Two recent analyses have identified some of the key genes that regulate these processes, lighting up the highway to normal mammary gland development.
Melchor
Lorenzo
L
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
Smalley
Matthew J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D011247:Pregnancy; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology
C489421:Bmi1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1